Gold Sovereigns were minted at the Pretoria Mint from 1923 until 1932. These were produced at the PRETORIA Mint. The Rarest South African Gold Sovereigns are those minted in 1923, only 406 of those were minted.
There were fairly low mintages of all South African Sovereigns and all are considered rare. The Mint at Pretoria minted sovereigns to avoid having to send them to London for approval.
| Sovereign | Half Sovereign | |
| Gold Sovereign 1923 | 406 | None Issued |
| Gold Sovereign 1924 | 2,660 | None Issued |
| Gold Sovereign 1925 | 6,086,624 | 946,615 |
| Gold Sovereign 1926 | 11,107,611 | 806,540 |
| Gold Sovereign 1927 | 16,379,704 | None Issued |
| Gold Sovereign 1928 | 18,235,057 | None Issued |
| Gold Sovereign 1929 | 12,024,107 | None Issued |
| Gold Sovereign 1930 | 10,027,756 | None Issued |
| Gold Sovereign 1931 | 8,511,792 | None Issued |
| Gold Sovereign 1932 | 1,066,680 | None Issued |
The new goldfields in South Africa ensured a ready supply of gold. Prior to the Pretoria Mint, gold coins were minted in South Africa and these included Burgers Pounds in 1872 with a bust of Rev Burgers and these were made from alluvial Gold from Pilgrims Rest.
Between 1892 and 1900, Gold coins were made by a mint run by the National Bank of the ZAR.
The discovery of gold at Gauteng (Johannesburg) prompted this
That mint became the State Mint on the corner of Church Square in Pretoria. In 1902, the State mint was closed by the British when they occupied Pretoria. An Alternative mint was attempted to be opened at Pilgrims Rest (where there had been a gold mine)
What was known as a field pound was struck and these and less than a thousand of these were struck.
These were often exchanged for British Gold Sovereigns after the Boers were defeated by the British. These Field Pounds are very rare and forgeries exist.
The Royal Mint started in Pretoria on the same basis as the Australian Mints. The Royal Mint both refined gold and struck sovereigns and half sovereign (including proof sets)
A range of other South African coins were also minted.
The sovereigns were identical to British Sovereigns with the addition of an sa mint mark.
South African Gold Pounds ceased production in 1932 and began again in 1952. The Gold Currency is now the Rand and both One Rand and Two Rand Coins are minted and are mainly used as bullion coins.